AudioCircle
Industry Circles => Hollis Audio Labs => Topic started by: HAL on 24 Nov 2019, 12:32 pm
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The next generation open baffle planar speaker begins. Meet the Magnetar open baffle planar wide range speaker.
Have been working with a new push-pull planar driver that is designed for open baffle use. Using a test folded baffle design, and doing the digital crossover with the dspMusikLCD 2x8, this is the farfield response in my room with first reflections removed. Adding in some first reflections goes down to 200Hz for crossover to the 3x12" servo subs wing the Rythmik Audio HX300-12OB servo amp and GR-Research 12" OB servo subs..This is not a speaker sensitivity measurement calibrated to 2.83V output.
The frequency response is +/-2dB form 300Hz to 22KHz and will be better than that at the low end. The driver specs are 103dB/1w/1m on a standard test baffle.
Will be working on the production baffle and working with the new dspNexus digital crossover as they become available. These will not be DIY kit speakers as The Monoliths are.
The initial listening sessions are these will be a force to recon with!
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=201306)
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The Magnetar OB speakers can be stand mounted to separate them from the servo sub cabinets. As in this picture with the servo subs near the front wall and the planars in more optimal spots for the mains.
Getting ideas for grill cloth to form fit it to the speaker baffle.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=201415)
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Very interesting. Seems like a Neo10 on steroids.
Are you planning the finished product running your custom planar all the way up top with no tweeter? Using a single driver or in multiples?
Greg
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The Magetar will be a single planar on top a servo sub all open baffle. Using a dspNexus for fully active system.
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The Magetar will be a single planar on top a servo sub all open baffle. Using a dspNexus for fully active system.
It will be fully finished.
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The Orchard Audio BOSC GaN monoblock amps have arrived and connected with 18" speaker cables to the single planar in the baffle. Using the dspMusikLCD 2x8 as the digital crossover driving balanced inputs to the amps.
The crossover to a pair of 3x12 OB servo subs is working and will be tweaking levels.
So far very impressed with the amp sound driving the planars and integration with the servo subs.
The final baffles are still in work, so will take pictures once they are done.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=203367)
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single driver planar, flat from 300-22kHz, 100+db. That's like a dream come true. When will this be available and what's your target cost?
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No target date or price at this time.
Waiting on the dspNexus digital crossover and production style baffles to get the cost.
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Very exciting development! Will be interesting to see polar response, as getting a big enough planar to go low can sometimes mean it beams up high, but maybe you have a way to mitigate that.
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Will do off axis responses with the new baffles.
The last two HX300-12OB servo amps to run the servo subs are here and the Speakon connectors installed. These are for the two 6x12 OB servo subs with 4 HX300-12OB amps.
Will get the speaker levels dialed in this weekend.
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The four Rythmik Audio HX300-12OB servo amps are now running the two 6x12 OB H-Frame servo subs.
A fun visceral experience with this bass with the Magnetar planar running everything above 200Hz. The Orchard Audio BOSC monoblock amps are directly driving the planars.
The dspMusikLCD 2x8 is doing digital crossover for the system with everything running balanced. Absolutely no noise from the system in my room when nothing is playing. Great black background.
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The dspNexus 2x8 is now running the Magnetar speakers as a 2-way system. Using the new AKM AK4499 DAC modules to run the system with two 3x12 OB servo subs. The planars are driven directly by the BOSC amps.
After the measurements with the latest prototype open baffles for the planars, the updated digital crossover design sounds great mating to the servo subs.
Now for a lot of listening to finish the voicing. :D
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Any updates to share?
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Very happy with the sound quality so far.
I know of some improvements needing to occur, so working on those now.
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Is that a Mad 1 Planar? I'm having so much speaker envy right now...
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No, the planar driver is not a MAD-1.
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I'm intrigued. Is it custom built, or do you think it will ever hit the market? I'd be interested in a pair for a much smaller, compact build. Looking forward to seeing your finished model!
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The planar is an OEM unit that I obtained for testing. It is in a prototype baffle at this point for testing.
It is similar size to a BG NEO10, but it will not be for a DIY open baffle planar, it will be for a production system.
As with any open baffle speaker is will need at least 3' behind the baffle to work correctly.
Will post here when it is ready.
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Sad that the planar is not going to be available for DIY, as it's the exact speaker I dream drool over having for my project (single driver planar dreams...), but still excited to see how this turns out. Looking at the specs your system is going be a hell of a listen.
Look forward to seeing what you do!
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Sad that the planar is not going to be available for DIY, as it's the exact speaker I dream drool over having for my project (single driver planar dreams...), but still excited to see how this turns out. Looking at the specs your system is going be a hell of a listen.
Look forward to seeing what you do!
Hello, we are chatting on a DIY forum and I think many people will beg you to change your plans and offer this speaker for DIYers.
In any case I am also part of it!
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After much time the production style baffle for the Magnetar is in build. The prototype is in Red Oak and will be stained Barn Red with a gloss clear coat when done. Using Minway style stains and finishes.
Here are renders of the open baffle speaker.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=221801)
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=221802)
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The final render of the new Magentar planer open baffle speaker is completed by the builder.
Should be in CNC next week. Once assembled off to finishing.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=222265)
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I will be picking up the first pair of the Magnetar open baffle planar speaker baffles on Monday.
Stay tuned to this thread for updates.
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The production style baffles have arrived.
Installing the drivers and wiring. Then some pictures in the room. :thumb:
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The first production pair of Magnetar open baffle planar speakers is complete.
Now to connect the Orchard Audio Starkrimson monoblocks to the new dspNexus 2x8 DSP crossover and servo subs for listening.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=223323)
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That's really exciting. Glad you're making progress.
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Thanks.
Just have to set them up at this point with the new amps and dial in the gains in the dspNexus 2x8.
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The listening room redo beginning with the Magnetar speakers setup on Pangea 32" stands. The Orchard Audio Starkrimson monoblock amps sit on the rear of the baffle. Will use a 3x12 configuration of the GR-Research OB servo subs with a single Rythmik Audio HX300-12OB servo amp.
The dspNexus 2x8 is the entire front end for analog and digital sources. It will also do RIAA phono EQ with a flat gain preamp infront.
Will be setting up my updated Oracle Delphi MKI table for use with the modified DSA PhonoI preamp that provides flat gain with balanced outputs to drive the ADC's in the dspNexus 2x8.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=223481)
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The system is now setup as follows:
The dspNexus 2x8, HAL MS-6 Music Server and Orchard Audio Starkrimson monoblocks are all plugged into the DigiBUSS MKII that gets AC power from my BlunderBUSS. Power cables are TWL customs made by Pete for me for the system.
Have the Magnetar DSP crossover block diagram loaded on the MS-6 and downloaded to the dspNexus 2x8 and it is running. The dspNexus and MS-6 have been running for 24 hours to check stability and everything is fine.
Next, power up the monoblocks and just listen to the Magnetar OB planars to see how they sound before integrating the 3x12 Servo Sub arrays. I have REW installed on the MS-6 and will be using the iMM-6 measurement mic for response and main to sub integration checks.
Fun stuff!
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Yep, this is sounding excellent!
A bit of adjustment needed for the new custom gain Starkrimson monoblocks as the higher gain is needed for these planars.
Just need to setup REW and the measurement mic to get the levels matched.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=223590)
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Any updates? When are these going to be available? Any additional info? Thanks.
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The first production pair of Magnetar speaker baffles are being built now. Once they are delivered and painted, will have final pricing.
The DSP crossover will be the Danville Signal dspNexus 2x8 system when is in production.
The speaker system will come with pair of 2x12 OB H-Frame Servo subs with Rythmik Audio HX series servo amps.
If there are other questions, please let me know.
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Thanks.
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I am curious if you can discuss the design goals and your expected usage? It looks interesting so I am curious what you see these competing against?
Keep up the good work!
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The Magnetars are a speaker system for a smaller size listening area with the 2x12 OB servo subs below 250Hz. The planar radiation pattern is meant to be pointed at the listening position.
The planar baffles do not need to be located with the servo subs. I have stand mounted them on 32in stands with the subs located in more optimal positions. The dspNexus 2x8 has time delay on the planar channels to adjust to the user setup. The user setups the standard stereo amp with balanced inputs from the planar DAC outputs and the servo sub amps go to the other two channels of the DAC outputs.
Like any OB speakers, the system should placed into the room at least 3ft, not near room boundaries.
Since the dspNexus 2x8 is more than just the DSP crossover, it will have the capability to make measurements with a user furnished calibrated balanced output mic (i.e. Dayton Audio EMM-6 or other), it will assist in setup of the system as measurements can be made from the listening position (with the correct length XLR balanced mic cable and stand). The mic calibration data file can be input to most measurement systems like REW for the correction.
Here is the Dayton Audio mic info:
https://www.daytonaudio.com/product/911/emm-6-electret-measurement-microphone
The dspNexus 2x8 has further goals discussed in that HAL AC thread.
Hope that helps with the Magnetars system concepts.